Report 010 [Action/Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

Comments

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

[Well heeey there fellow scrawny scientist. Bruce Banner is just walking around town in clothes that are probably too hot for the current temperature outside (he's wearing a hoody and pants). He happens to glance over at Robert and... yeah are you sure you can handle that?]

Those uh... look kind of heavy.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[... "Handling it" might not be the best term, actually. More like "overtly struggling a little with it". Though Robert isn't quite complaining, but in this heat and with his less-than-adequate physical condition, he probably isn't the best person to be carrying plastic bins around.]

... A n-necessary consequence of moving, I am afraid. To pack more would be... c-compromising the structural integrity of the containers.

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

Well yeah I suppose that's true...

[He's not even sure if this guy can get to his destination in one piece.]

Do you need a little help...?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Maybe! It's debatable, though.]

... I would... a-appreciate it, yes... th-though you certainly do not need to b-burden yourself on my behalf...

[He's never seen this particular individual before, though he recalls the voice on the network.]

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

It's not really a burden. Not like there's a ton of stuff to do here anyway right? Lemme take a few off your hands.

[And that's what he does! He's going to take about one or two. Depending on how much he's carrying. Physically Bruce is not that amazing, but since he's used to running from the law and whatnot, he's probably slightly more muscular than Robert is. So he's a bit better off with these.]

Kind of heavy... how far you gotta take these?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[One'd be fine - Robert can't exactly handle much at once anyway, which is why he has to do this so many times.]

Er... the s-southernmost part of the village, unfortunately... [Maybe if he's unspecific it won't be as dangerous for the family? Yeah, no, it's still probably a bad idea... but Robert's an even worse liar.]

... I... I do not think we have ever m-met before.

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

We haven't actually. My name is Bruce.

[Hmmm. He thinks he recognizes Robert from the journal as well actually.]

...Hey. I know privacy might be an issue in the village since it's hard to tell if someone is actually sane or not. So I could just help you carry them most of the way if you're uncomfortable..

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

And I am P-Professor Robert Alexander Hastings... [Said almost tic-like, though if Bruce has heard Robert introduce himself before, that won't be too strange.

The rest of the sentence makes Robert feel a little bad. It's not like he doubts this guy's sanity, just...]

... Ah. I... I would appreciate that...

Th-thank you for being understanding. I just... I seem to attract some... u-unpleasant individuals on a consistent basis. [Though Robert hardly thinks Bruce qualifies as one. Yet, anyway.]

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

Yeah, that's... actually why I asked.

Trouble has a nasty habit of following me too, so I would probably feel the same in your position.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

I am... a-additionally a non-combatant, and so... often represent a l-liability. [Though Robert might be changing that non-combatant status eventually, he's... still never going to be even close to dangerous. Especially not to the people he's fearful of.]

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

Well non-combatant doesn't necessarily mean liability. Especially not here... to be honest I'm actually sort of a non-combatant myself. [Liiiiiiiiies.] Have you tried out some of the fillial magic? If not for combat it could be useful for escape.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

A-Admittedly, I have... extreme difficulty. My world, er, has no p-paranormal physics whatsoever, which I suspect c-contributes to the challenge... [As does his mun not being sure if he should be able to.]

... I am r-rather unique in that regard, as... I have f-found, here.

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

I can understand that. I actually would have problems myself if it wasn't for some of the magic I've experienced first hand back home.

It's not your fault really. Just remember that escaping from a fight could be just as useful as being in one. Especially if you're a non-combatant. There's other, more conventional ways of doing that too if magic isn't your thing. Like smoke bombs, learning to do some pakour. If you climb up to a high point and glide off with your wings, it could throw some people off. Usually everyone thinks they're completely useless.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[... You know, that's an interesting potential usage. Though Robert isn't certain if he could pull it off...]

... I a-assume this is... something you are quite familiar with then, considering your kn-knowledge on the subject...?

[Robert here is still getting used to the whole violence thing in the first place. Sort of.]

[Action]

[whydidisaverick]

Well...yes actually. After you've been put into enough dangerous situations you start to adapt a bit. [He actually wonders if he should be saying this much about himself by telling him all this. After years of being a criminal, you start to get a little paranoid about these things... ah well. If it helps keep someone alive..] If a non-combatant can get out of combat on their own, it's one less thing a combatant has to worry about. You become less of a liability and more of your own person because--while you still have no combative skills-- you can still escape from most situations without needing assistance.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[It's not like Robert can tell Bruce is a criminal, or even anybody out of the ordinary. As far as he's concerned, Bruce is just from another violent world - the norm, it seems - and just happens to know a lot about running away from those kinds of confrontations.]

... What if your... a-associations make you a liability to others?

[It's a timid question that, well, probably raises more questions than it answers.]